Constance (Connie) Collins was born in Gore in 1905.

She studied to become a painter at ILAM School of Art, Canterbury University, in Christchurch. She then went on to further study in Australia. Her family moved to Whanganui from Gore and Connie taught at the WEA (Workers Education Association). It was there that she met Leon Missen. They married and had a son, Lindsay.

Connie took up pottery seriously in the 1960’s. She and Leon lived in Castlecliff, Whanganui’s beachside suburb where they both had studios and enjoyed their lovely garden with farmland views. Connie made pots and used her painting skills to decorate her work. She fired her pots in her electric kiln and would sometimes join other potters to fire her work in a wood fired kiln. Leon made objects out of wood.

Connie continued to make two-dimensional works. Her proficiency with a brush set her apart from most others working with clay at that time in Whanganui.

Connie died in 1992 at the age of 87.

Rick Rudd
2022